Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Robert Altman has died. I don't know why this is affecting me so much. Possibly because out of all the big movie industry types he was the only one I'd ever met in person. Maybe somehow that made him more real. I dunno. Maybe also because even though he was 81 there still seemed to be so many films he could have made, he was so smart and innovative. It seems like a waste.

Monday, November 20, 2006

So on Sunday the lovely Lesley who played the equally lovely Lady Macbeth in the show I just did (so lovely was she that even dressed head to toe in brown velour she got wolf whistles from an excited teenager in the audience) invited me along to I guess a get together/reading thing by Guy Gavriel Kay, the quite prolific writer of historical fantasy, and a fellow canuck.

He read from his new book Ysabel, which comes out I believe in January, which was super cool. Yes I am sure he'll use the quote "super cool" as one of his blurbs. So you all must go buy the book when it comes out. Again, not like he needs my endorsement.

I also got the opportunity to meet many interesting people involved in the writing industry, and I have discovered something. Networking? It isn't all that difficult. Especially when the people you are talking with are very nice, funny and interesting. And really it just feels like talking until you are handed a business card (note to self, make more business cards). I always assumed it was something I would never be able to handle, but I totally forgot how much I love meeting new people, and that's all it really is. The trickiest thing is I guess knowing where to go, and getting the invite. But once you're in, not so bad. Also it helps to have someone giving you the best introductions ever over and over again. So yes, many a hearty thanks to Lesley for the invite and the support. And thanks also to everyone I met and chatted with. I had a truly lovely time.

(PS: Very very very sad that Macbeth is finished. I hate it when a show comes down. Sigh)

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Not because I am short (which I'm not really, quite average, 5'6 - my grandmother tells me this is the perfect height because I can wear heels with a man and not be taller than him), nor is it because I am male. And I am also not French (though I can speak it okay).

No it's because I am slowly conquering Europe.

Yes my friends my book is now going to be published in Germany! Ha ha!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

I thought that while things behind the scenes got themselves figured out in the book end of my life, that we should visit ever so briefly the other extremely important . . . book end of my life. That whole acting thing.

As I announced a few weeks back I was cast as "Third Witch" in a production of Macbeth. Well we opened last week (a two week run, two shows a day), and I just wanted to let everyone know just how lovely it has been. Acting is a really great job, and it is understandable why it takes so much effort to be a professional, because the doing of the job itself is so unbelievably fun!

First there's the acting itself. Getting to say some wonderful words that just roll off the tongue (I'm the witch that gets to say, "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes"), getting to wear fun and funky costumes, and getting to simply play. But then there are all the other things. The backstage antics, the onstage inside jokes, the unexpected audience responses. The amazingness of seeing MacDuff's kilt fall off just before having to announce "Let all our trumpets speak!" (It happened folks, it happened. In front of high school students). Then there is the post theatre-ness, ie the Pub.

Yes acting is wonderful. I don't mean to minimalise the work put into it. I mean rehearsals go long, and running two shows back to back with only an hour break is exhausting. And of course there is the physical act of performing the stage combat. Let's also not forget the mental pain of not being able to understand a directorial note no matter how hard you try, or feeling like the world's worst actor. But I think it is important to point out how swell acting is most of the time. Because it really is.

I love it so much. And I am going to be so sad when this show is over on Friday. Sigh. Ah well, there will be others. Onwards, and upwards!